by micmarmac

Created on: October 08, 2008   Last Updated: February 11, 2009

Some people battle with weight their whole life. They can look at a photo of a cheesecake and gain 2 kilos. Some eat like horses and never gain a pound. I am blessed by being naturally slim, I wear the same size at age 47 that I wore at 17. But being slim doesn't necessarily equal being healthy. Even though I am not fat, I adopted healthy habits in order to stay fit and feel my best. Below are a few slim-person secrets to a healthy life.

The first thing you need to remember is don't starve yourself. Drink a glass of water as soon as you get up in the morning to re-hydrate your body and kick-start your system. Then try to eat something three or more times during the day. Now, I am not talking about 3-course meals every time you eat. Just keep it simple. A bowl of muesli or oatmeal is a good start to the day. With fruit and milk added you are consuming many nutrients your body needs. For lunch and dinner keep it green. Salads and/or stir-fried or steamed vegetables with pasta or rice keep you energised. Make sure you use a wide assortment of vegetables so you get a multitude of vitamins in one hit. If you are a meat eater use lean cuts and slice it thin. One chicken breast can easily feed three if it is used as an ingredient and not a main course. If you don't starve yourself your body won't panic and store unneccesary calories. You will have a healthy metabolism and the energy to face the day.

Secondly, cut out the junk and eat simply. Stay with fresh foods including vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, and a little meat. Stay away of chemicals if you can help it. If the label contains mostly ingredients that sound like they came from a lab, don't eat it. Only eat things you can identify as food! Stay away from pre-made snacks including muesli bars, cookies and fruit rolls. Processed foods are high in fat and sugar. Make snacks from scratch and look for recipes that use vegetable oil instead of butter or lard. Think before you purchase and eat and your body will thank you.

The final thing and probably the most important thing in a healthy life is exercise. I walk every chance I get, and not always at a breakneck speed! Walk to work, walk to school, walk to the shops...just walk! Walking provides numerous benefits including calorie burning, stress relief and reducing your chance of suffering from osteoporosis later in life. Treat household chores as exercise and concentrate on the muscles you are using. Make every activity count.

Some people are naturally thin, some average and some large. Whatever your size you will feel better physically and mentally if you eat a simple, healthy diet with real food and get some exercise at least four times a week. Graze and walk your way to a better you; it really works!

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